Joseni is one of the largest and oldest settlement in the Giurgeu Depression. The lowest temperatures during winterseason in the country have been repeatedly measured near the village, thus people dubbing Joseni as the "North Pole" of the country. 

Its first Roman Catholic church became a victim of the Mongolian army, so it is a fact that is was built at the beginning of 13th century, the construction process presumably directed by the Cistercian order. Alfalu is renowned fot a myth of a battle fought between the Catholic Szeklers and the Protestant Prince of Transylvania and his army in 1567, the leader of the Catholic troops being a priest, Stephen from Joseni. The myth relates that in the time of Pentecost the two side clashed, the Catholics emerging as victors. As sign of gratitude the victors thanked St. Mother Mary, and gathered at the well-known pilgrimage site of Csíksomlyó, at the statue of the Holy Virgin. After  the victory each year in time of Pentecost a pilgrimage is organized to Csíksomlyó, and the ones to lead the pilgrims are the representatives of Joseni. For almost 430 years this tradition has been kept alive, the event becoming on national importance in the Hungarian culture.

Regarding the settlement's economic role documents underpin that it was one of the most important floating center of logs in the region.